How to Become a Lawyer in Pakistan

Lawyer is one of the prominent professions in Pakistan. The lawyer in Pakistan is commonly known as advocate. To become a lawyer it takes a lot of hard work so first realize your passion for career in law field. It should be based upon some important calculations such as interest, keenness, and available opportunities to prosper in law field.

What is Job of a Lawyer

Professional Lawyers are part and parcel of various legal systems. A lawyer works to secure the interests of its clients and makes their desire known in case of a law suit. Lawyers have meetings with their clients to listen their cases and advice them legal aspects of the case. They advice clients most suitable and appropriate legal measures and if they think there is a case to answer they present their case in the court. They carefully plan with the clients and come up to a choice regarding how to go about the whole proceedings.

To become a lawyer and opting for field of Law, it is necessary to have proper knowledge about the method and procedure to become Lawyer. Here are step by step guidelines to understand pros and cons of legal profession:

Educational Requirements for a Lawyer

If you have passed your Intermediate or an equivalent exam, you are four steps away to be a lawyer. An aspirant has to complete following steps:

Step 1: Pass HEC Law Admission Test (LAT)

Step 2: Pass LLB Degree from a recognized university

Step 3: Pass HEC Law Graduate Assessment Test (Law GAT)

Step 4: Get License from Bar Council for legal practice

LLB Degree Duration

In terms of duration, LLB degree was of 03 years previously. From now on, HEC Pakistan has increased the duration of the LLB degree from 03 to 05 years. LLB after Intermediate consists of semesters (06 months each).

Admission in LLB Degree

Admission in all universities of Pakistan for LLB is subject to successful passing of LAT. The minimum qualification required for LAT is Intermediate.

The admission is based on LAT score and aggregate of educational marks as prescribed by the universities in Pakistan.

Get Bar Council License

A Lawyer has to be member of one of the regional Bar Councils i.e. Punjab Bar Council, Sindh Bar council, Balochistan Bar Council or the KPK Bar Council. It is compulsory for lawyers to get Bar Council License. This is last step to become a Lawyer and start legal practice in the courts. For this purpose, a LLB degree holder must get his / her registration with the Bar Council. The Registration with the Bar Councils in Pakistan is subject to passing of Law GAT and minimum 6 months internship/ experience of legal practice under any senior lawyer. Bar Council issues registration form which requires to submit back filled up with requisite information and documents.

General Information:

• It's mandatory for fresh lawyers to do legal practice in lower courts for two years.
• With two years' lower court experience, the lawyers can get Bar Council License for legal practice in High Court.
• After ten years' experience of High Court, lawyers are eligible to handle cases Supreme Court.
• The registration is renewed by the Bar Councils every year on payment of prescribed fee which is 2000/-.

Law Degrees

1. LLB
2. LLM
3. Bar of Law